balls

/ bɔːlz /

plural noun

1. the testicles

2. so as to be rendered powerless

3. nonsense; rubbish

4. courage; forcefulness

interjection

1. an exclamation of strong disagreement, contempt, annoyance, etc

Usage

Both its anatomical senses and its various extended senses nowadays have far less impact than they used to, and seem unlikely to cause offence, though some older or more conservative people may object. Interestingly, its use in the sense of courage is exactly paralleled in the Spanish term «cojones»

Example Sentences

Instead, media reports indicate that he has spent 29% of his current term at his own golf courses, presumably having his caddy make favorable drops for him whenever the balls are out of sight.

From Salon

There has been so much pressure heaped on the 21-year-old this summer that it hardly seems fair, but at Lord's he seemed to be really enjoying himself during his 58 off 40 balls.

From BBC

No one won the ticket that matched all six numbers drawn on Wednesday: white balls 3, 16, 29, 61, 69 and red Powerball 22.

From Los Angeles Times

Catchable fly balls drop, wild pitches, poor effort from the bullpen are costly as Dodgers fall to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

From Los Angeles Times

Another Birmingham soccer player, Carlos Esnal, is booming balls into the end zone on kickoffs.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• arrogance 
• audacity 
• boldness 
• gall